In Piazza Italia in Scicli, the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola is an 18th-century church closely tied to the town’s devotion to the Madonna delle Milizie. Its central draw is a statue of the Virgin Mary riding a horse, dressed as an armed, crowned warrior. The figure is unusual in religious art and gives the church a particular place in Scicli’s local traditions. Visit to see the statue and the large paintings inside, or plan a late-May trip to coincide with the feast held in her honour.
The Madonna delle Milizie
The church is associated with the Madonna delle Milizie, a figure venerated in Scicli. Her statue shows the Virgin Mary on horseback, armed and crowned. The image gives her the appearance of a warrior and is the church’s defining work. It is kept inside the church.
The local devotion is shared with Saint William, who is also a patron of Scicli. The Madonna’s place in the town is expressed each year in a feast held on the last Saturday of May.
The feast and its story
The celebration includes a costumed representation. Its story comes from a local legend: the Madonna intervened to save Christians during a battle against Turkish invaders who had landed on the coast at Donnalucata, a seaside village belonging to Scicli.
The feast has also been recounted by writer Elio Vittorini in his novel Il garofano rosso. Its representation is included in Italy’s register of protected intangible heritage. If you visit around the celebration, the church’s statue and the public festivities offer two ways to encounter the same local tradition.
Perguntas frequentes
Where is the Church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola?
It is at Piazza Italia 11 in Scicli, Sicily.
What is the Madonna delle Milizie statue?
It depicts the Virgin Mary on horseback as an armed, crowned warrior. The statue is kept inside the church.
When is the Feast of the Madonna delle Milizie?
It takes place on the last Saturday of May.
